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If you are a person who loves arts and has an artistic hand then a craft book would be very useful for you. This is a book about the different arts and crafts that is educational and instructional. This may include painting, knitting, stitching, candle making, doll making or any other form of craft work. Individuals who have the proclivity for making decorative and useful objects can get plenty ideas from the craft book. Aside from providing an outlet for your artistic talent, doing something can also turn out to be a money saver.

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A cross-stitch book is a craft book that helps you in making beautiful decorative pieces along with having fun while you are doing it. There are some guidelines that you will need to follow to be able to cross stitch. Here are some instructions that will help get you started!

You will be needing the following: A graph that you wish to draw, even fabric for cross stitching, a tapestry needle of 24 or 26, embroidery thread or floss, embroidery hoop and scissors.

Steps for cross stitching

You will have to separate each strand before using because the threads come in bundles of six strands per thread. Use the correct cotton color for each symbol using the color key as your reference. Start at the center of the pattern and work outwards from there so that your stitching will not go over the fabric edge. To fix the center, you must fold the fabric in four and the intersection of the folds is your starting point, then you identify the center of the chart which in most cases is shown with arrows or other markings.

After you have threaded your needle with the correct color, you can start stitching but first you have to secure the end of the thread to the fabric by stitching over it a few times. Once you have done a stretch of stitch, you may begin with another color by working backwards of the previous stitches. Finish the color by running the cotton under the stitches at the back so that it is secured.

You have a choice of several forms of cross stitches, from single, row, half, back and part stitches which all make for beautifully finished products.

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One of the greatest things of soy wax candles, since they are made from hydrogenated soybean oil, is that they are completely natural. Soy wax candles are becoming a popular substitute of beeswax candles, and they burn long and clean. You can find soy wax candles in a variety of colors and fragrances. There are many benefits to using soy wax when you want to learn how to make candles on your own. It can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby.

Some of the advantages of using soy wax to make your own candles include:
Soy wax candles don’t produce as large amount of soot as paraffin wax candles do.
If you spill some of the soy wax when you are learning how to make soy candles, it is easy to clean up.
Soy candles burn at least 50% longer than candles made from paraffin wax.
Environmentalists will also be happy to know that soy wax candles do not release carbon dioxide in the air.

Supplies to make soy wax candles can be purchased online and in craft stores. The easiest ones to make are soy jar candles. Here is what you will need to make them:
1 pound of soy wax
1 jar (any type will do.
1 ounce of fragrance oil if you want scented soy candles
1 wick approved for use with soy.

You can find these supplies at a candle making store or you can order them online. Many of the online retailers will provide supplies and instructions on how to use them. If you really want to get creative, there are many books and recipes you can reference to.

Try adding different fragrances to obtain a variety of scents. Combining fragrances can go both ways you can ace a scent that’s unique, or create something awful to smell. It is best to mix the oils before you add them to the soy wax so that you don’t have to throw out the whole pot of melted wax. If you use one pound of soy wax, your instructions on how to make soy candles will tell you that you will need to use I fluid ounce of oil to fragrance it.

It should be easy to shop for all supplies in the same store that sells soy candle supplies. The place where you buy your supplies is also a good place to get ideas on candle making and candle storage. In time, you might even learn how to make other types or shapes of candles as well.

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There’s little point to preserving old photos, interesting and amusing as it may potentially be, if the photos are blurred or damaged to the point that you can hardly recognize what’s in the picture, or how you felt when the picture was taken.

Scrapbooks allow you to not only preserve photos and memorabilia, but to capture the emotions behind your precious memories.

But when you look at all those photos you have to sort out, with some of them that may date back to the time of flowers, beads and the Vietnam War, preparing your scrapbook can be a challenge. Thanks to EK Success education director Joy Macdonell has these useful tips for anyone who wants to get into scrapbooking.

Purchase the basic tools. These items would include albums, adhesive, scissors, colored pens, paper and a pair of scissors. Herma brand adhesive is recommended, as is the Zig Memory System line of pens. You will need to be on the lookout for the following labels – “acid-free”, “lignin-free” and “photo-safe.”

Keep your pictures in order. Set aside a few acid-free photo boxes complete with dividers and start organizing – arrange your photos according to year, occasion, family, friends or whatnot. Use the pens you had purchased to write down the details on the back of each photo.

Choose the right photos. For each theme, you’ll have to select a few pictures that match the theme perfectly. Store the others. Beginners in scrapbooking can set aside three pictures per page.

Sketch the layout and determine the colors. Make a rough sketch of how you want each page to look like, and use temporary adhesive as you figure out where to place each picture or how to lay things out. Be selective when choosing the colors, they must perfectly complement the tones of the pictures on each page.

Crop and mat the photos. Cropping photos removes any unnecessary detail that doesn’t add to the image. To make sure the photos stand out on their own, create a quarter-inch mat on each side of the photo for a finishing touch.

By all means, add some life to the pages! This refers to your scrapbook, of course, which would need a colorful assortment of 3-D logos, fancy-dan lettering and amusing stickers to keep things lively. Still, you shouldn’t go too fancy by making the embellishments take attention away from the pictures.

Journal entries are more important than anything else. This is the most important scrapbook element because it conveys the details and feelings about that moment, which can be forgotten with time. Should you have a hard time with your journal entries, use bullet points to highlight the important events in each picture.

Finally, enroll in a class or do research on your own. Although these tips will help you get started, take classes to really hone your skills.

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When many people hear the word quilt they think of many colorful blocks or patches created from old clothes sewn together to form a large rectangular blanket. Pieced patchwork is actual much, much more complicated. Piece patchwork is the result of sewing together fabric scraps in geometrical pattern to form blocks. You can hand stitch the pieces together, or use a sewing machine. Though hand stitching is more traditional, machine sewing is more resistant.

If you use a template, you can create patches that are exactly the same shape and size. Templates may be made or purchased. You can easily make a cardboard template by transferring the design on square paper and then cut it out with a pair of scissors. At this point all you have to do is to glue the paper design you cut out to a piece of cardboard. Make sure you leave room for a seam. Cut out the template with scissors and go the extra mile by coating the extra seam with nail polish for protection. You will need to cut out a new template for each shape you want to add to the quilt.

If you prefer to make a plastic template, put clear plastic over the design and trace around every shape. Draw a seam allowance around each shape and cut out.

Once you have created a template, place it on the fabric, lining up one straight edge with the grain of the fabric. Draw around it with a quilter’s pencil or tailor’s chalk. If you need multiple patches, folding the fabric like an accordion will save you a lot of time. Staple the template to the layers and cut out the pieces, preferably using a rotary cutter and a cutting mat.

Now it is the time to attach backing papers or iron on interfacing.

Once you have the patches, it is best to lay them out and make sure you like the design before you start creating the patchwork. If you are satisfied with the design, you can start piecing. Hand piecing requires the patches to be placed right sides together and pinned. Pin them at the corners to start with. All patches must now be stitched with a whipstitch, which you can do by passing the needle in one corner and then moving it across to the next one. Remove the pins as you go.

If you are machine piecing your patchwork, you may join several pairs of patches at a time by using the flag method. The patches still need to be right side together, but they can be pinned in pairs. Machine stitch along the seam line using the foot as a guide. Leave a short uncut thread between the pairs. Each can be cut into single units. You can continue connecting pairs until you obtain a patched piece. The seams should be laid flat to one side. You shouldn’t try to press them open.

Once you patchwork quilt top has been completed, layer it together with batting in the middle and backing fabric on the back. Baste the layers and then proceed to actually quilting the blanket. If you are going for straight lines, and you are planning to use a machine, you can buy a quilting foot specifically designed for this purpose. For free-form quilting remove the foot completely and lower the foot lever. Use your hands or a hoop to stretch the fabric taut, and stitch slowly.

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Many crafters are drawn to quilting because of the wide variety of beautiful fabrics available. Walk into any fabric store or quilting shop, and your eyes are nearly overwhelmed with all the choices in fiber and color. The selection is so wide and bold that one’s senses are on overload. Today’s quilters are very fortunate to have all the choices available to them. But surely, having so many fabrics to choose from can also create indecision as to which would be best to pick.

Even if quilting was mostly created out of necessity in the beginning, and any type of fabric was used, today’s choice strongly bends toward cotton as the favorite fiber. Many quilts from days gone by were sometimes made of wool, though the technique used was appliqu©d quilts to accommodate the heavier weight of wool. cotton is an all-around great fiber and it is easy to care for, though it is always recommended washing it first to pre-shrink it. In other words, the beloved fiber in quilting is definitely 100% cotton. Though it is possible that you will run into some very attractive mixed fabrics at the fabric store, you might want to think about it for a moment. Buying quality fabrics for your quilt will not break the bank. Consider the fact that you are about to make a sizeable investment of time into making the quilt, so you might want to think about also investing a little more in the fabric. Besides, relatively speaking, fabrics for quilting simply don’t cost that much money.

Choosing the right color is very important. Often this is a topic which confuses beginning quilters, but there’s no need to shy away from learning about color. You might be taken aback by your hidden talent in picking out the right colors. Pay attention to your inner voice, and unless you are color blind, if you are particularly attracted by a certain color combination, it will probably appear pleasant to others also. And remember that this is your quilting project and you should choose fabrics that you love the look of, and that you’ll enjoy working on. Nature is a great teacher when it comes to choosing colors. “Copy” the way colors match at the ocean or in a patch of woods and you cannot possibly make mistakes. Go outside to take a walk, and notice the different colors patterns at the park, for example.

For those who want a bit more guidance, you can do a rudimentary study of color theory. You can learn more about the color wheel and about primary colors, secondary colors and intermediate colors, which are a m©lange of primary and secondary colors. Something else concerning color that is quite important is value-light. You should have a good balance of values in the fabrics you choose. You might also want to consider the intensity of the colors in your fabrics, which is the brightness or dullness of a color.

Familiarizing yourself with the wide variety of fabrics available for quilting is a pleasurable experience that will also enhance your enjoyment of the craft.

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When the average person thinks of stencils, the word probably brings to mind early American style-painted floor cloths, or stenciled walls. Stencils had their moment in the spotlight in the 1980′s, when the country look was the hot look to have in one’s home. However, when a quilter thinks of stencils, a very different use comes to mind. And if a crafter hasn’t used them before, he or she might be a little confused when it comes to how they need to be used. After all, when you look at a quilt, there’s no evidence that anything to do with stenciling in the traditional sense has occurred!

But stencils do belong in quilting, and with more technological discoveries, they are becoming more and more popular by the day. Quilting stencils are very similar to stencils for paint, and often look about the same. They are manufactured from hard plastic, and they have a design. The difference is that while painting stencils are employed to create a decorative pattern, quilting stencils are used to lay down a pattern that one will follow by stitching. Crafters use stencils to create unique patterns on their quilts. Quilting stencils allow you to transfer a design, which you will stitch later. And don’t be too concerned with your artistic abilities. If you use stencils, the design has already been created and all you have to do is follow it.

Many companies offer quilting stencils and the supplies you’ll need to go with them. You’ll find designs ranging from traditional florals and fans to very contemporary styles. Take a look around some of the quilting sites on the internet or visit your local quilting store to get an idea of how many stencils await you.

Quilting stencils are extremely easy to use. The pattern can be easily transferred with chalk, water or stitching. Make sure the water soluble pen is tested on the fabric before you use it, to make sure you don’t ruin your quilt. All you have to do is to trace the pattern. Voila! You now have a stitching pattern to follow without a lot of muss and fuss. There are many more important things for quilters to do than worry about patterns. The trick is to find a pattern which is a half an inch to an inch smaller than your block, so the pattern won’t look overwhelmed. If you prefer, you can even create a pattern with a smaller stencil.

Quilting stencils are one of the most popular innovations in the world of quilting. The average quilter of yesteryear would be amazed to view all the notions and supplies that are now available for the home crafter. So are you ready to enjoy them? Quilting stencils are a great time-saver.

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The average quilter always has a keen eye of unique fabrics that they could use to enhance their quilting projects. Sometimes the most unusual and pretty designs can be found in places one wouldn’t normally consider.

Below are some useful strategies that can help any quilter find those hard-to-find fabrics:

Swap meets or flea markets are a fun place to shop. Sometimes you would see whole bolts full of materials being sold off – everything must go! Usually these materials are unused and were excess inventory or closeouts.

At garage sales, you will find quilters selling excess materials and tools. And the chances of finding surplus items would even be greater if the yard sale is held in an area which has a good number of people who are retired and/or elderly. Retirees often have more time on their hands for quilting, and this may include selling their unneeded items. Mobile home parks also produce some excellent and unusual finds through their garage sales.

You can go to sites like eBay and bid on online auctions in the comfort of your own home. Be wary of shipping costs. You will want to bid on items where the seller is located at a state close by. You can always try asking for a bargain in shipping as you live in the same shipping zone – it doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try.

Storage options are riskier than the above sources for fabrics, but always worth a shot. You will need to do a bit of logistics work here, checking your local newspaper for auction dates and times, and calling each individual storage facility to double-check the information. Before bidding, you will be given a chance to inspect the items that are up for auction before you actually bid on them.

Quilting shows are really competitive. Usually the last day, you will find blowout sales and bargains. The sellers don’t want to leave the show with excess inventory.

Some great bargains are available at estate sales. Your local paper should have information on these sales. Just like it is with garage sales, retirement communities and mobile home estate sales offer some of the best finds.

International trips can be fun. You can find great bargains and really beautiful fabrics in faraway lands such as India, Thailand, and Africa. And this “gift” can keep on giving as you purchase extra fabrics and sell your creations at the next quilt show in your area.

One last option you could try would be to advertise in your local classifieds section – soon you’ll have people selling their fabrics to you over the phone or through email. All you need to do is place an ad in your local newspaper or buy-and-sell paper and state that your intent is to buy fabric.

Get that left brain working and consider one or more of the tips we have just discussed. Heighten your senses because the next great deal may be around the corner. Good luck, fellow quilters!

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